So, I kind of mocked this story yesterday, but today an interesting twist has emerged which puts the story in an entirely different light. This week, CNet reported a story about how Apple is working with the San Francisco Police Department to retrieve a lost iPhone 5 prototype. The police and Apple apparently traced the phone to someone's house, and showed up on his doorstep, threatening him and his family. The only problem - the SFPD has no record of any house search or of the case in general - raising the question whether Apple employees falsely impersonated the SFPD, which happens to be a serious crime in California. Update: While I was busy sleeping, the story changed a little bit, but it's still far too shady. After conferring with Apple, the SFPD now states four police officers were involved, and that only the two Apple employees entered Calderon's house. However, Calderon had no idea these two were private non-police people, since he claims they did not identify themselves as Apple employees. Had he known, he would not have let them search his house. So, update or no, Apple employees still impersonated police officers, and issued threats to intimidate Calderon into letting them search his house - without a warrant. I don't understand how people can just accept this sort of behaviour. Don't you have rights in the US? Update II:Perfect summary.

While I admire your loyalty to Apple, I hope they're paying you for all this mindless PR you provide for them. I said it before and I'll say it again. If Apple wants to report a crime and let the police investigate, that's within their rights. This however was just bully tactics, and not okay, no matter what corporation or entity does it. Just because the cops often abuse their power doesn't mean people should just take it laying down. Wake the fsck up already. You can stop kissing Jobs' arse any time now. He doesn't care anyway, as long as you keep giving him your money.

As I said thousands of times every day people tell the cops someone has stolen, misappropriated or damaged their property and thousands of times a day the cops go with the complainant to visit the alleged perpetrator to try to resolve whether the complaint has any substance and to try to sort out what has happened. Don't you guys get out at all - or at least watch any one of the dozens of cop reality shows? In this case the missing property was a prototype that whilst having a lot of value (as a prototype) would have been quite hard for the cops to recognise so it's even more understandable that they took some technical help along. Jesus what a storm in a tea cup. What next - Apple employee double parks shock horror!